Earthquake in Haiti: Two Years Later

Earthquake’s devastation still plaguing Haiti’s people.

Tragedy - On Jan. 12, 2010, the nation of Haiti was rocked by a devastating earthquake that took the lives of nearly 300,000 people. Nearly two years later, more than 550,000 people are still living in squalid, overcrowded earthquake settlement camps in the capital of Port-Au-Prince, and new building projects have been small in scale and have produced little progress, while reconstruction efforts — including one co-chaired by former President Bill Clinton — have also been snagged. Read on to see how Haiti has survived, two years later. Visit the Red Cross to learn more about how you can help with the relief effort.—Britt Middleton(Photo: Frederic Dupoux/Getty Images)

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Tragedy - On Jan. 12, 2010, the nation of Haiti was rocked by a devastating earthquake that took the lives of nearly 300,000 people. Nearly two years later, more than 550,000 people are still living in squalid, overcrowded earthquake settlement camps in the capital of Port-Au-Prince, and new building projects have been small in scale and have produced little progress, while reconstruction efforts — including one co-chaired by former President Bill Clinton — have also been snagged. Read on to see how Haiti has survived, two years later. Visit the Red Cross to learn more about how you can help with the relief effort.—Britt Middleton(Photo: Frederic Dupoux/Getty Images)

The Aftermath - The 7.0 magnitude quake, the strongest to hit the country in 200 years, left a path of destruction throughout Port-au-Prince.  The initial quake was followed by at least a dozen aftershocks, intensifying the damage done in some areas. So far, $2.38 billion has been spent to rebuild, though many Haitians have said their lives aren’t any better now than in the days after the quake.(Photo: Frederic Dupoux/Getty Images)

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The Aftermath - The 7.0 magnitude quake, the strongest to hit the country in 200 years, left a path of destruction throughout Port-au-Prince.  The initial quake was followed by at least a dozen aftershocks, intensifying the damage done in some areas. So far, $2.38 billion has been spent to rebuild, though many Haitians have said their lives aren’t any better now than in the days after the quake.(Photo: Frederic Dupoux/Getty Images)

World Outreach - In the initial days following the disaster, a massive international relief operation was launched, and planeloads of supplies began making their way to Port-Au-Prince. President Obama ordered an immediate U.S. rescue effort, and the European Union, the Red Cross and United Nations furnished emergency funds and supplies. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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World Outreach - In the initial days following the disaster, a massive international relief operation was launched, and planeloads of supplies began making their way to Port-Au-Prince. President Obama ordered an immediate U.S. rescue effort, and the European Union, the Red Cross and United Nations furnished emergency funds and supplies. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Medical Emergency - Doctors from around the world tended to the sick and injured in makeshift clinics near disaster settlement camps. Soon, doctors informed that there was a shortage of volunteers after many first responders in the relief effort had returned to their home countries. Food, water, tents and basic medical supplies were also scarce. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

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Medical Emergency - Doctors from around the world tended to the sick and injured in makeshift clinics near disaster settlement camps. Soon, doctors informed that there was a shortage of volunteers after many first responders in the relief effort had returned to their home countries. Food, water, tents and basic medical supplies were also scarce. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

Saving Grace - Streets that were once lined with churches, schools and homes lay in ruins following the quake.(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Saving Grace - Streets that were once lined with churches, schools and homes lay in ruins following the quake.(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Strength in Numbers - The race to bring food and clean water to the Haitian people became frantic as the threat of dehydration and waterborne diseases became a grim reality. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Strength in Numbers - The race to bring food and clean water to the Haitian people became frantic as the threat of dehydration and waterborne diseases became a grim reality. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Place of Worship - Even in trying times, many Haitians kept close to their spiritual roots and attended services outside, as many churches were significantly damaged. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Place of Worship - Even in trying times, many Haitians kept close to their spiritual roots and attended services outside, as many churches were significantly damaged. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Crippling Illness - In 2010, shortly following the quake, the Haitian people were again plagued by disaster. A cholera outbreak tore through the nation and killed 7,000 people, and sickened nearly 500,000, officials said. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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Crippling Illness - In 2010, shortly following the quake, the Haitian people were again plagued by disaster. A cholera outbreak tore through the nation and killed 7,000 people, and sickened nearly 500,000, officials said. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Salvaging the Past - Haitians searched the rubble for loved ones and remnants of what once was. The Haitian government is now implementing small, community-based projects designed to bring the homeless back to their old neighborhoods to build, renovate and find jobs through friends, theAssociated Press writes.(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Salvaging the Past - Haitians searched the rubble for loved ones and remnants of what once was. The Haitian government is now implementing small, community-based projects designed to bring the homeless back to their old neighborhoods to build, renovate and find jobs through friends, theAssociated Press writes.(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Reconstruction Is Stalled - Six months after the quake, there was still no agency in place to coordinate reconstruction. Former President Bill Clinton co-chaired a Haiti reconstruction panel, the U.N. special envoy to Haiti, but that effort would be blocked by Haitian lawmakers who argued there weren’t enough Haitians represented on the panel. (Photo: Frederic Dupoux/Getty Images)

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Reconstruction Is Stalled - Six months after the quake, there was still no agency in place to coordinate reconstruction. Former President Bill Clinton co-chaired a Haiti reconstruction panel, the U.N. special envoy to Haiti, but that effort would be blocked by Haitian lawmakers who argued there weren’t enough Haitians represented on the panel. (Photo: Frederic Dupoux/Getty Images)

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Political Uproar - By December 2010, political tensions in the country had come to a head. Tire-burning riots shut down Port-au-Prince for three days, after officials announced the country’s inconclusive presidential election would go into a run-off. The vote would be resolved, and Michel Martelly would be installed as president in May 2011.  It would be another six months before a prime minister would be installed, the official in charge of reconstruction projects.  (Photo: REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)

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Political Uproar - By December 2010, political tensions in the country had come to a head. Tire-burning riots shut down Port-au-Prince for three days, after officials announced the country’s inconclusive presidential election would go into a run-off. The vote would be resolved, and Michel Martelly would be installed as president in May 2011.  It would be another six months before a prime minister would be installed, the official in charge of reconstruction projects.  (Photo: REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)

Leadership Trouble - The previous government never set up a housing agency or a clear housing strategy, the Associated Press writes. Settlement camps swelled because foreign aid groups there were delivering what the government didn't: water, latrines and electricity. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

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Leadership Trouble - The previous government never set up a housing agency or a clear housing strategy, the Associated Press writes. Settlement camps swelled because foreign aid groups there were delivering what the government didn't: water, latrines and electricity. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

Surviving the Elements - Makeshift tents provided little protection from the harsh elements, and no running water or electricity to displaced earthquake survivors. The Haitian government has launched two housing projects that will include nearly 3,500 homes. Forty million dollars in Venezuelan aid will help develop the southern coastal town of Jacamel, a plan aimed at helping decongest the capital. (Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

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Surviving the Elements - Makeshift tents provided little protection from the harsh elements, and no running water or electricity to displaced earthquake survivors. The Haitian government has launched two housing projects that will include nearly 3,500 homes. Forty million dollars in Venezuelan aid will help develop the southern coastal town of Jacamel, a plan aimed at helping decongest the capital. (Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Struggle to Survive - Many of the displaced have left the cramped and often unsanitary conditions of the settlement camps and moved into makeshift tents, living without drains, running water or electricity. Others have resorted to shed-like shelters built on concrete slabs by the Red Cross. "This is misery," an observer told the Associated Press. "I don't see any benefits.”(Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

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Struggle to Survive - Many of the displaced have left the cramped and often unsanitary conditions of the settlement camps and moved into makeshift tents, living without drains, running water or electricity. Others have resorted to shed-like shelters built on concrete slabs by the Red Cross. "This is misery," an observer told the Associated Press. "I don't see any benefits.”(Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Work in Progress - The Haitian government and partners say that more than 10 million cubic meters of rubble have been cleared, and roads have been paved in the capital and in the countryside, encouraging hope that the thousands still living in tents and dilapidated shantytowns may soon have a home of their own. (Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

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Work in Progress - The Haitian government and partners say that more than 10 million cubic meters of rubble have been cleared, and roads have been paved in the capital and in the countryside, encouraging hope that the thousands still living in tents and dilapidated shantytowns may soon have a home of their own. (Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

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A New Start - Many earthquake survivors that have left the crowded settlement camps have moved into shed-like shelters built upon concrete slabs. (Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

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A New Start - Many earthquake survivors that have left the crowded settlement camps have moved into shed-like shelters built upon concrete slabs. (Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery

More Housing Issues - Of the 10 best-funded projects approved by a reconstruction panel, not one focuses exclusively on housing, the Associated Press writes. A U.S.-financed $225 million industrial park includes housing for 5,000 workers, however it lies 150 miles outside the quake zone.(Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

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More Housing Issues - Of the 10 best-funded projects approved by a reconstruction panel, not one focuses exclusively on housing, the Associated Press writes. A U.S.-financed $225 million industrial park includes housing for 5,000 workers, however it lies 150 miles outside the quake zone.(Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Little Progress - The reconstruction effort has been snarled by squabbles over land ownership and in-fighting among the country’s political leaders. "Staying in a tent is not an option any more, two years after the earthquake," Nicole Widdersheim, of the U.S. Agency for International Development, told the Associated Press.(Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

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Little Progress - The reconstruction effort has been snarled by squabbles over land ownership and in-fighting among the country’s political leaders. "Staying in a tent is not an option any more, two years after the earthquake," Nicole Widdersheim, of the U.S. Agency for International Development, told the Associated Press.(Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

State Department Issues Haiti Travel Warning - The U.S. recently issued a revised travel advisory for Haiti that warns American travelers about robbery, lawlessness, infectious disease and poor medical facilities in the country. (Photo: Dieu Nalio Chery/AP Photo)

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Coming of Age - Children who should have been studying in classrooms instead surveyed the desolate conditions of abandoned settlement camps and remnants of the earthquake’s wreckage. The Haitian government has said that 600 classrooms have been built for 60,000 children to return to school. To learn more about how you can help with disaster relief in Haiti, visit Doctors Without Borders.(Photo: AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)